Country Fig Tart

Country Fig Tart

This is the tart I make every autumn when our fig tree is bursting. The pastry is my gluten-free Hysa House Pie Dough (adapted from the Deluxe Pastry Dough from the Joy of Cooking). The base is a blend of fresh goat cheese, cottage cheese, lemon juice and zest, and almond extract, and it is not very sweet. I let the main sweetness come from the figs. The top is basted with apricot jam and drizzled with raspberry balsamic vinegar.

In a food processor, combine until very smooth the goat cheese, cottage cheese, sugar, lemon zest and juice, and almond extract.

Spread the pastry filling over the rolled tart crust, about 1/4 inch thick (or more to your liking) keeping about a 2-inch border free for folding. Next, starting on the edge of the filling, lay the fig pieces flesh-side up in a circle. Continue laying them in circles, working inward, until the center is filled. Next, fold the tart edge over so that the edge of the fruit and filling hide underneath. Warm the apricot jam on the stove for 60 seconds until liquified, and with a pastry brush, baste the whole tart, fruit and crust, with the jam. Lastly, drizzle the figs with the raspberry vinegar.

Transfer the tart with the parchment paper onto a cold pizza stone or square baking sheet, place onto the bottom rack of the oven, and bake for 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the fruit is bubbling.